Page 60 of A Dead Man's B-Side
It didn’t look like a dorm anymore. It looked like a laboratory with a bed for the evil scientist to rest on, in the event of extreme fatigue.
Jars lined every wall, and developed photos hung from the ceiling.
A small shrine, or rather a summoning circle, was situated in the corner, where a liquid looking rather similar to blood was used to draw unidentifiable signs.
Rain Atlas Jett seemed to be in a trance, turning in a full circle to take in the room around her.
It might have been the only time I’d seen Rain Atlas Jett indisbelief.
Well, there were many occurrences that followed, but this moment in time seemed to be the first domino.
“It’s almost fascinating, isn’t it?” I poked at a jar on the shelf next to me, watching the liquid inside wave ever so slightly, though the unknown object inside remained still. “Nobody could have suspected that the sweet and reserved Marigold Walter could muster up such dark thoughts.”
Rain hummed but otherwise remained silent. She lifted a pen from the desk against the far wall, with two picky fingers, and poked at the shape laid open on the surface. “What–… Oh my god.”
Her words came out breathless, and only upon further inspection, squinting my eyes under the dark light, did I figure out what it was.
Marigold Walter liked to mutilate rats.
It wasn’t a sight that shocked me, growing up the way I did, but the image Marigold portrayed was too much of a contrast to swallow the thick truth I was witnessing.
I hadn’t inspected the room further than the doorway, finding the red light and shrine to be enough, and decided to cash in what I could from Rain.
But this was something else entirely.
I wondered if she would bring in rat blood for the next task provided by the Founder’s Society.
I glanced around the room, at the jars filled with what I now knew were animal parts, or animal wholes.
Now, I was glad that the lighting concealed most of what we could see. I wasn’t sure I could fathom a room full of dead creatures.
Funnily enough, it made me queasy, imagining such a sweet girl with blood splatters across her cheek, undeterred by the squealing of the fearful animals.
“How does it not smell?” I wondered quietly.
Rain dropped the pen with a clatter. “It’s 6-4.”
“Is that supposed to mean something?”
Unfortunately for me, despite the dark lighting, I was still privy to Rain’s eye roll. “It’s on the highest floor, so you wouldn’t have to worry about the smell rising. And it’s 6, so it’s a corner room.” She lifted two fingers. “Two windows.”
It was my turn to hum, only now noticing the windows; hard to spot with the dark curtains drawn.
“Well.” Something I learned was to avoid remaining at the scene of the crime for too long. “I’m assuming that this concludes our field trip.”
Rain moved closer to the jars on the shelves. “Not so fast.”
Her voice was soft, lost in thought, and I paused next to the exit. “I just handed you Marigold, or her compliance more like, on a silver platter. I don’t believe you’re in any position to make demands.”
Rain Atlas Jett seemed to return to herself, moving swiftly to face me. “You’re right. So, what is it you want in exchange?”
I smiled, but I wasn’t an idiot to assume I could finally relax. “I thought you’d have caught on by now. Marigold… for me.”
Rain Atlas Jett narrowed her eyes. “I can multitask.”
I raised my eyebrows but didn’t dwell on her wording, her glare sharpening on what I was sure could be read on my face. “Yes, I’m sure you can. But if I decide to… let’s say inform Marigold of this little adventure, I’m sure this dorm would become a place of exemplary standing overnight. You wouldn’t want that.”
“You’re right, I wouldn’t. But enough speaking in circles. What is it you really want?”
